The Cash in the Plate for the first week of December will be donated to the Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network IBIJAN). The Cash in the Plate for the remaining four weeks of December will be donated to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
Finding Joy
To help support one another through this moment in history, I draw on the wisdom of Valarie Kaur, social activist and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project. The project inspires and equips people to build beloved community where they are, centered around an ethic of love.
Finding Joy this holiday season may be difficult for some than others. People with marginalized identities are living in fear of future legislation that already threatens their freedom and safety. When we do not resonate with the life experience of others, a Revolutionary Love calls upon us to Wonder. To Wonder is to cultivate a sense of awe and openness to the experiences of others, to listen to their pain, their needs, and desires. Wonder brings us the humility we need to recognize other people are as complex and infinite as we are. Wonder gives us information on how to love and care for each other. It is the wellspring of love.
Coming Together to Preserve Our Church Building
Recent events remind us how important it is to protect what we value. In that spirit, we are preparing to launch a major project to renew the exterior shell of our church building before the aging roof and shingles lead to potentially expensive damage. The Building & Grounds Committee has done a thorough examination of the building, identified the necessary repairs, and outlined a 3-phase plan to complete the work efficiently. When the project is completed in 2027, the building will be safe and dry for many years to come.
The great variety of winter seasonal music is impressive, from classical to folk to pop to everything in between. Despite the hokey barrage of tunes in many retail stores, most of the time we can pick and choose what fits our mood. The greatest joy is making music to share with one another.
We are a growing, caring, loving community of children and adults who are learning about the interdependent web of life this year. The garden space is growing, and we are grateful to be able to use the land behind the church to continue our exploration of nature. We will have nature walks every month and explore our local environment, the habitats around us and the animals and plants that are near us. What is our role in sustainability? How do we fit in the world? We will work on answering the questions together this year. Registration is rolling throughout the year and is available here: Religious Exploration Registration Form (google.com)
Our Virtual Holiday Auction ends at 8:00 tonight, December 20! We have a terrific collection of items, from wonderful meals, cookies and cakes to jewelry, museum trips, healing sessions, handmade tools and more. And new items have been added. Check it out! Do your holiday shopping here!
We received this lovely flower arrangement from the Tummino Family, thanking the whole church for organizing a beautiful service last Saturday. “It was perfect.”
Thank you to all who helped with the Outdoor Cleanup Work Party on October 22. We had beautiful weather, and many hands helped the cleanup to go smoothly. We have already used the space for our Halloween Bonfire. We appreciate the hard work and effort to clean this parcel of land so we can use it for outdoor activities. Well done! Photos by Kelly Lownds
Spirits ran high on Monday night as CUUPS celebrated the ritual of Samhain. We circled around an altar set with autumn leaves, marigolds, crows, glowing candles and mementos of our beloved dead.
The Glory of Autumn
Rev. Beau Rivers
Autumn is such a magical time when the
trees beckon me to come outside and play.
Inviting me to dance with the leaves
as they fall gracefully from the trees…
Breathing in the musk of Autumn soil
I fling my arms wide with face to the sky and
twirl amid the swirl of leaves about my feet.
Feasting my eyes upon their radiant colors,
Each tree blazes against the azure sky.
I pause to bask in their brilliance as they
rival the sun, even on the darkest of days.
Each leaf is like the last kiss of summer…
Creating a blanket of leaves to keep me
warm beneath the downy snow of winter.
